This account emphasizes knowledge because it is ultimately power-hunger and a distrust of the knowledge God gave mankind that led to Eve picking the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad. As Legaspi explains, in Hebrew, this tree is connoted with that of a “tree of command,” meaning God’s command and our subjectivity to it. When this command is juxtaposed with knowledge, the prohibition of knowledge as Adam and Eve saw it, we take it as God purposely limiting us from having as much knowledge as he has. Having the knowledge of good and evil, or “total knowledge that approximates divine omniscience” would make us as powerful as God. It makes sense that God’s command is conveyed through eating because it points to one of our major limitations as humans: we are material beings who rely on food and sustenance that only God can supply for us. God cements man’s relationship to the earth and also our dependence on him to provide for us. Also, back in the time this text was compiled, eating and food had much more stress and involvement in everyday actions.

Other than simply being disobedient, Adam and Eve became too proud and self righteous. They knowingly went against God’s one wish because they fell into temptation and selfishness, wanting to have the same power God has for themselves. Adam and Eve were never god-like to begin with, and their act of sin simply solidifies their state of humanity. They desired to be more god-like, which simply proved their sinfulness and simplicity. It is merciful that God banishes them from the Garden before they reach out their hands for the Tree of Life and gain immortality. If humans were to gain immortality in this state, we would be deprived of the experience of heaven.

This text is very strategically organized and I believe that the elements mentioned in the creation story, as well as the order everything is created in, is crucial for providing insights into what God’s vision is for the world. Themes of goodness, light, fruitfulness, and dominian specifically stand out to me.  On the first day, God creates light for our darkness. Metaphorically, I think this hints at the simplicity that the light of faith provides in our daily lives, because without that light there is only darkness of confusion and sin. Also noticeable is that the text specifically says that “God separated the light and darkness” which hints that the two are not meant to be intertwined and there is no gray area. Either there is light and good, or darkness and evil. The light comes to rule the darkness. Although real life gets messy and complicated, this account simplifies everything to black and white, showing what is inherently good.

Everything God creates is very methodical and purposeful. First he separates the light from the darkness, then the heavens from the earth, then the water from the land, then the plants and animals from the humans. Before he even creates mankind in his image and likeness, God provides us with sustenance of light and food. He designates mankind with dominion over the plants and animals, probably because we are the most similar to him. The human person is blessed with the goodness and complexity of God’s image and likeness, an unfathomable miracle and opportunity for us. There is specific emphasis on the inherent goodness and purity of all the things God creates. God wants everything that is good to multiply– the goal of humankind is to fill the earth and “subdue” it. He rests on the seventh day, not because he needs to, but because he is satisfied with everything he has done, and he can appreciate the goodness and potential of the world he just created.

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.